Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Izaak Walton League of America Inc

EIN 36-1930035 · Gaithersburg, MD

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO CONSERVE, RESTORE AND PROMOTE THE SUSTAINABLE USE AND ENJOYMENT OF OUR NATURAL RESOURCES, INCLUDING SOIL, AIR, WOODS, WATER AND WILDLIFE.

Income
$4.0 million
Spending
$3.8 million
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
30.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 77%
Employees
16
Highest pay
$233,716, exec. dir e

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 86% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 30.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 24% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 14 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (5)
  1. $954,497 spent. CHAPTER RELATIONS AND MEMBERSHIP: AT THE HEART OF IWLA ARE MORE THAN 200 LOCAL CHAPTERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. THESE CHAPTERS FORM A GRASSROOTS VOLUNTEER NETWORK OF CONSERVATIONISTS AND COMMUNITY ACTIVISTS WHO ARE FIGHTING TO PROTECT THE NATURAL RESOURCES THEY LOVE AND ENJOY. IWLA SUPPORTS ITS LOCAL CHAPTERS THROUGH MEMBER RECOGNITION AND AWARD PROGRAMS, COMMUNICATION TOOLS, MEMBERSHIP MARKETING MATERIALS AND OTHER PUBLICATIONS AND WORKSHOPS.
  2. $920,009 spent. CLEAN WATER: ALL OVER AMERICA, VOLUNTEERS ARE STEPPING INTO THE GAP TO ENSURE OUR WATER IS SAFE AND IWLA IS THE ONLY ORGANIZATION TRAINING, EQUIPPING, AND COORDINATING THESE VOLUNTEERS ON A NATIONAL SCALE. THE SAVE OUR STREAMS PROGRAM IS THE ONLY NATIONWIDE PROGRAM TRAINING VOLUNTEERS TO PROTECT WATERWAYS FROM POLLUTION AND BRING INFORMATION ABOUT WATER QUALITY TO THEIR COMMUNITIES.
  3. $647,820 spent. COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA: OUTDOOR AMERICA MAGAZINE IS IWLA'S FLAGSHIP PUBLICATION AND THE PRIMARY VEHICLE FOR COMMUNICATING WITH IWLA'S MEMBERS ABOUT CONSERVATION ACTIVITIES AT THE LOCAL, STATE, AND NATIONAL LEVELS. EACH ISSUE INCLUDES HIGHLIGHTS OF CHAPTER ACTIVITIES AND ARTICLES THAT FOCUS ON KEY CONSERVATION AND OUTDOOR RECREATION ISSUES. OTHER PUBLICATIONS PRODUCED BY IWLA INCLUDE A MONTHLY ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTER, ANNUAL REPORTS AND SUPPORT MATERIALS FOR CONSERVATION PROGRAMS. IN ADDITION, IWLA'S STAFF WORKS WITH THE MEDIA TO KEEP THE PUBLIC INFORMED ABOUT NATIONAL, REGIONAL, AND LOCAL CONSERVATION ISSUES AND PROJECTS.
  4. $606,992 spent. GENERAL CONSERVATION: THE GENERAL CONSERVATION PROGRAM ADVANCES IWLA'S CONSERVATION POLICY AGENDA BY PROVIDING BACKGROUND INFORMATION TO CONGRESS AND STATE LEGISLATURES; KEEPING MEMBERS INFORMED ABOUT FEDERAL AND STATE LEGISLATIVE AND REGULATORY ISSUES AFFECTING NATURAL RESOURCES AND THE ENVIRONMENT; EDUCATING THE PUBLIC ABOUT IMPORTANT CONSERVATION ISSUES; AND ASSISTING MEMBERS AND CHAPTERS IN IMPLEMENTING LOCAL CONSERVATION PROJECTS. AGRICULTURE: SINCE 1937, IWLA HAS PROMOTED FARMING METHODS THAT SUSTAIN PEOPLE AND NATURAL RESOURCES. TO THEIR CREDIT, AMERICAN FARMERS FEED THE COUNTRY AND MUCH OF THE WORLD. HOWEVER, CURRENT FARM PRACTICES, ENABLED BY OUR FARM POLICY, ARE POLLUTING OUR WATER, ERODING OUR TOPSOIL, AND DEGRADING SOIL HEALTH. INVESTMENTS IN CONSERVATION OVER THE PAST HALF CENTURY, PAID WITH TAX DOLLARS, HAVE HELPED, BUT TODAYS PROBLEMS AFFECT ENTIRE LANDSCAPES AND THEY ARE ACCELERATING. THROUGH NATIONAL POLICY ADVOCACY, IWLAS GOAL IS TO EXPAND AGRICULTURE CONSERVATION PROGRAMS AND FUNDING TO SCALE UP CONSERVATION PRACTICES ACROSS MILLIONS OF ACRES OF LAND TO IMPROVE SOIL HEALTH AND THE NUTRITIONAL VALUE OF OUR FOOD, REDUCE POLLUTED RUNOFF, AND COMBAT CLIMATE CHANGE BY SEQUESTERING MORE CARBON IN SOIL, WETLANDS, AND GRASSLANDS. MISSOURI RIVER INITIATIVE: IWLA WORKS WITH FEDERAL AND STATE AGENCIES AND PRIVATE STAKEHOLDERS IN IOWA, NEBRASKA, AND SOUTH DAKOTA TO ASSESS THE ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES FACING THE MISSOURI RIVER ECOSYSTEM, RESTORE THE RIVER'S NATURAL FLOWS, IMPROVE FISH AND WILDLIFE HABITAT, AND PROVIDE INCREASED OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUTDOOR RECREATION. AS PART OF THIS ONGOING EFFORT, IWLA COORDINATES RIVER CLEANUPS AND HOSTS EDUCATIONAL EVENTS FOR STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES ALONG THE RIVER. CONVENTION: IWLA'S ANNUAL CONVENTION PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR MEMBERS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS THAT GOVERNS IWLA AND TO WORK TOGETHER TO ADVANCE IWLA'S CONSERVATION, OUTDOOR RECREATION AND EDUCATION MISSION.
  5. GENERAL CONSERVATION: THE GENERAL CONSERVATION PROGRAM ADVANCES IWLA'S CONSERVATION POLICY AGENDA BY PROVIDING BACKGROUND INFORMATION TO CONGRESS AND STATE LEGISLATURES; KEEPING MEMBERS INFORMED ABOUT FEDERAL AND STATE LEGISLATIVE AND REGULATORY ISSUES AFFECTING NATURAL RESOURCES AND THE ENVIRONMENT; EDUCATING THE PUBLIC ABOUT IMPORTANT CONSERVATION ISSUES; AND ASSISTING MEMBERS AND CHAPTERS IN IMPLEMENTING LOCAL CONSERVATION PROJECTS. AGRICULTURE: SINCE 1937, IWLA HAS PROMOTED FARMING METHODS THAT SUSTAIN PEOPLE AND NATURAL RESOURCES. TO THEIR CREDIT, AMERICAN FARMERS FEED THE COUNTRY AND MUCH OF THE WORLD. HOWEVER, CURRENT FARM PRACTICES, ENABLED BY OUR FARM POLICY, ARE POLLUTING OUR WATER, ERODING OUR TOPSOIL, AND DEGRADING SOIL HEALTH. INVESTMENTS IN CONSERVATION OVER THE PAST HALF CENTURY, PAID WITH TAX DOLLARS, HAVE HELPED, BUT TODAYS PROBLEMS AFFECT ENTIRE LANDSCAPES AND THEY ARE ACCELERATING. THROUGH NATIONAL POLICY ADVOCACY, IWLAS GOAL IS TO EXPAND AGRICULTURE CONSERVATION PROGRAMS AND FUNDING TO SCALE UP CONSERVATION PRACTICES ACROSS MILLIONS OF ACRES OF LAND TO IMPROVE SOIL HEALTH AND THE NUTRITIONAL VALUE OF OUR FOOD, REDUCE POLLUTED RUNOFF, AND COMBAT CLIMATE CHANGE BY SEQUESTERING MORE CARBON IN SOIL, WETLANDS, AND GRASSLANDS. MISSOURI RIVER INITIATIVE: IWLA WORKS WITH FEDERAL AND STATE AGENCIES AND PRIVATE STAKEHOLDERS IN IOWA, NEBRASKA, AND SOUTH DAKOTA TO ASSESS THE ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES FACING THE MISSOURI RIVER ECOSYSTEM, RESTORE THE RIVER'S NATURAL FLOWS, IMPROVE FISH AND WILDLIFE HABITAT, AND PROVIDE INCREASED OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUTDOOR RECREATION. AS PART OF THIS ONGOING EFFORT, IWLA COORDINATES RIVER CLEANUPS AND HOSTS EDUCATIONAL EVENTS FOR STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES ALONG THE RIVER. CONVENTION: IWLA'S ANNUAL CONVENTION PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR MEMBERS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS THAT GOVERNS IWLA AND TO WORK TOGETHER TO ADVANCE IWLA'S CONSERVATION, OUTDOOR RECREATION AND EDUCATION MISSION.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since April 1985.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated November 4, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.